Place Name: Margree? Scotland

[brianandgail]

The Old Parish Record of Dalry, Kirkcudbright shows that 'John Murray in Margree(?) and Elisabeth Donaldson in Clauchan had an illegitimate child born 18.08.1845 ... named John Murray. I have  an 1853 OS map of Dalry, but cannot find Margree. Does anyone know where 'Margree' is please?

[Gadget]

Hi and Welcome to Rootschat 

It's just to the North East of Lochinvar:


http://www.rootschat.com/links/08a1/


Gadget

[brianandgail]

Thanks for that. I'm over in Oz so it was hard to figure out. Now I have to try and trace John Murray.

[Gadget]

Do you have access to any of the censuses or would you like me to have a look?

Gadget

[Gadget]

No sure about this but it does say Margree:

1841:

Margree, Dalry
Parish No - 865 ED 5 Page 2

John Murray, 60, ag lab, not born Kirkcudbrightshire
Margaret Murray, 60, -do-
Hugh Murray, 20, ag lab,  b. Kirkcudbrightshire
Thomas Ferguson, 25, -do-, -do-
Margaret Ferguson, 25, b. Kirkcudbrightshire
William Ferguson , 7 months, -do-
Thomas Mitchel, 10, -do-

[brianandgail]

Hi, thanks for looking it up. I have been looking at Scotland's People for a month or two. I found quite a few John Murrays but don't know which one it could be. All I know is that he was the father of the illegitimate baby (my great grandfather) born in Dalry (OPR Births 865/0030 0061) on 18.08.1845 and baptised 26.04.1846. The mother (named Elisabeth Donaldson) for some reason gave the baby the same name as the father's first and last names: John Murray. In the 1851 census (865/00 008/00 017) the child John Murray aged 5 lives with his mother and grandmother (Mary Donaldson) in the old village of Dalry. Elisabeth remained single until she died a pauper in 1901 (865/00 0014)

John Murray is there again in 1861 aged 15 with his mum and grandmother (865/00 006/00 001) but then doesn't reappear until 1881 in Manchester (RG11 3896 17 27) when he is married to Catherine Murray and they gave birth to my grandfather (James)

I suppose the father of the baby John in 1845 could have been any age from 16 to 60. The only clue I have is that it says the father was 'John Murray in Margree...' in the Dalry OPR birth record for the baby.

Any help you could have by way of suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for your interest and help

[Gadget]

Hi again

Did you notice this entry in the 1841:


Wheatfield, Balmaclellan
856 ED 3 Page 5

Robt McMichael, 50, farmer
Mary McGhie, 35
Mary Murray, 20
Elizabeth Donaldson, 15
Will McLandsborough, 15

All b. Kirkcudbrightshire

Although Elizabeth has a later birthdate (15-19) than it would appear from the 1851 (aged 31), it is a possible as Balmaclellan is not far away and ages are not always accurate!

I noticed the Mary Murray who was with her and wondered if there was a brother/relative - possibly the son of the John Murray that I discovered. I've not been able to find anything else though.
I have the MIs for Dalry but am away for the next 10 days and can check for you if you'd like.

here's a photo of Lochinvar looking NE - the direction of Margree


Gadget

[Gadget]

The Dalry Kirk Sessions Minutes may have something on them. They are currently held at the National Archives in Edinburgh but are likely to go online later this year/early next year:

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,431331.0.html


In 1851, the only family at Margree is headed by a Walter Templeton, a shepherd 

Gadget

[brianandgail]

Hi again.

Many thanks for the photo. Margree looks bleak!

Thanks also for the info and suggestions. I don't know what 'MIs' are. Please would you enlighten me. Thanks and have a good time away!